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Smartphone Huawei Expected to Release a P40 Pro w/o Google Apps The Information alleged that Huawei has plans to move forward with a global release for the Huawei P40 Pro in early 2020, despite issue that the Huawei Mate 30 Pro — still has no global release date, despite launching months ago. The Mate 30 Pro and the Huawei Mate 30 are some of the best phones of the year. However, they both lack Google apps due to the United States ban on US-based firms working with the Chinese company. That’s why the Mate 30 or Mate 30 Pro is not available in any other location around the world aside from China. Even if the devices are imported into a country, there’s still no reliable way to get Google apps working. How can Huawei be planning to release the Huawei P40 Pro when it can’t even get the Mate 30 Pro off the ground? |
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Huawei releases two major flagships each year like clockwork: a P-series device in the early part of the year and then a Mate-series device towards the end. This year’s P-series device was the incredibly popular Huawei P30 Pro, which still has one of the best smartphone camera systems of any device launched this year. Not long after the P30 and P30 Pro landed, the US ban on Huawei began. The ban is complicated, but it essentially means that Huawei can’t work with any US-based company, which includes Google. As such, Huawei can no longer put Google Mobile Services (GMS) onto new smartphones. GMS is a Google product that needs to run on any Android smartphone that accesses Google services, including Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and more. Without GMS, an Android device is incredibly limited in its capabilities. The United States government has repeatedly given Huawei 90-day reprieves from the full effect of the ban and Huawei just received a third 90-day extension that temporarily lifts some of the ban’s restrictions, such as allowing Huawei to still issue Android updates to its current crop of devices. The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro are fine to sell and even update until, at the very least, March of 2020. However, since the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro launched after the Huawei ban took effect, they are out of luck. In fact, any new smartphone Huawei pushes out — theoretically including the Huawei P40 Pro — would be blocked from using GMS unless the government removes the ban or gives Google a special license to work with Huawei in a limited capacity.
Theory 1: Huawei knows the ban will weaken or even end
This is the most obvious way the Huawei P40 Pro could see a global release. The US government has repeatedly stated that it is working on a system that would grant temporary licenses to specific US firms so that they and Huawei can work together.
It is very possible that, between now and early next year, this system could finally see the light of day. Assuming it does, it is also very possible that Google could get a license and then be able to issue GMS certifications to new Huawei devices, such as the Huawei P40 Pro. If the Huawei ban ends or the government issues out temporary licenses, Huawei's global smartphone division could stay afloat. Huawei stated earlier this year that it could push Google apps and services to the Mate 30 Pro in just 24 hours, should the US government grant Google the ability to allow it. There is a possibility the Huawei ban itself could be gone by the time 2020 rolls around. Considering the US government just issued another 90-day reprieve to Huawei, it’s unlikely it would fully end before March of next year, but it is possible. It would likely be foolish of Huawei to depend on this happening, though, which brings us to our next theory.
Theory 2: The Huawei P40 Pro won’t be a P40 at all
The Honor 9X launched well after the Huawei ban took effect, which means that it shouldn’t have been allowed to have Google apps. However, it does and can run all the Google apps you like. Basically, the Honor 9X isn’t really a new smartphone at all. On the outside, it looks like one and it’s promoted as being new, but inside it is mostly just the Honor P Smart Z, a smartphone launched just before the Huawei ban began. When Google issues a GMS license for a phone, it attaches that specific license to the carrier and regional model number of the device. Therefore, Huawei used the license it received for the Honor P Smart Z and applied it to the Honor 9X. The aesthetic look of the device and even its specs don’t matter, as long as the integral aspects of the GMS license match up. Huawei could take advantage of a loophole within the Huawei ban that allows it to release slightly-altered devices.
It could use the license it received for the P30 Pro — or any Huawei device, really — and slap a new coat of paint on the phone and call it the P40 Pro, which is not a violation of the Huawei ban.
Theory 3: Google apps? Who needs Google apps?
Huawei already has a solution to the problem it faces with GMS: its own Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). Google’s GMS and Huawei’s HMS basically do the same thing, with the notable difference that HMS can’t access anything linked to GMS, which means HMS still can’t access Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, etc. However, HMS could access other apps developed by or in partnership with Huawei that do the same thing as those related to GMS. Theoretically, Huawei could move forward without Google at all, offering many of the same features and services Android users expect, which is easier said than done. For this to work, Huawei will need thousands of developers to alter their apps, so they work with HMS. Even if it can do that — which is a very big “if” — it would then need to convince consumers to sign on to living a Google-free life on their smartphones. Despite Google’s poor reputation at the moment when it comes to privacy and security, few would argue that switching from Google to Huawei wouldn’t be akin to jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. If Huawei could make HMS work for the Huawei P40 Pro, it would need more time than the few months from the anticipated launch of the phone for Huawei to implement a whole new ecosystem.
Theory 4: The Huawei P40 Pro will be more like a Huawei P30 Pro 2.
Huawei could reuse the GMS license from the P30 or some other Huawei device. That would allow it to launch on time with Google apps on board and keep Huawei’s global smartphone division afloat for the time being. From then on, Huawei is likely going to be working around the clock to make HMS and its new Harmony OS ecosystem a viable option for replacing Android, while simultaneously hoping that the Huawei ban will be lifted, and it can go back to business as usual.
Theory 1: Huawei knows the ban will weaken or even end
This is the most obvious way the Huawei P40 Pro could see a global release. The US government has repeatedly stated that it is working on a system that would grant temporary licenses to specific US firms so that they and Huawei can work together.
It is very possible that, between now and early next year, this system could finally see the light of day. Assuming it does, it is also very possible that Google could get a license and then be able to issue GMS certifications to new Huawei devices, such as the Huawei P40 Pro. If the Huawei ban ends or the government issues out temporary licenses, Huawei's global smartphone division could stay afloat. Huawei stated earlier this year that it could push Google apps and services to the Mate 30 Pro in just 24 hours, should the US government grant Google the ability to allow it. There is a possibility the Huawei ban itself could be gone by the time 2020 rolls around. Considering the US government just issued another 90-day reprieve to Huawei, it’s unlikely it would fully end before March of next year, but it is possible. It would likely be foolish of Huawei to depend on this happening, though, which brings us to our next theory.
Theory 2: The Huawei P40 Pro won’t be a P40 at all
The Honor 9X launched well after the Huawei ban took effect, which means that it shouldn’t have been allowed to have Google apps. However, it does and can run all the Google apps you like. Basically, the Honor 9X isn’t really a new smartphone at all. On the outside, it looks like one and it’s promoted as being new, but inside it is mostly just the Honor P Smart Z, a smartphone launched just before the Huawei ban began. When Google issues a GMS license for a phone, it attaches that specific license to the carrier and regional model number of the device. Therefore, Huawei used the license it received for the Honor P Smart Z and applied it to the Honor 9X. The aesthetic look of the device and even its specs don’t matter, as long as the integral aspects of the GMS license match up. Huawei could take advantage of a loophole within the Huawei ban that allows it to release slightly-altered devices.
It could use the license it received for the P30 Pro — or any Huawei device, really — and slap a new coat of paint on the phone and call it the P40 Pro, which is not a violation of the Huawei ban.
Theory 3: Google apps? Who needs Google apps?
Huawei already has a solution to the problem it faces with GMS: its own Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). Google’s GMS and Huawei’s HMS basically do the same thing, with the notable difference that HMS can’t access anything linked to GMS, which means HMS still can’t access Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, etc. However, HMS could access other apps developed by or in partnership with Huawei that do the same thing as those related to GMS. Theoretically, Huawei could move forward without Google at all, offering many of the same features and services Android users expect, which is easier said than done. For this to work, Huawei will need thousands of developers to alter their apps, so they work with HMS. Even if it can do that — which is a very big “if” — it would then need to convince consumers to sign on to living a Google-free life on their smartphones. Despite Google’s poor reputation at the moment when it comes to privacy and security, few would argue that switching from Google to Huawei wouldn’t be akin to jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. If Huawei could make HMS work for the Huawei P40 Pro, it would need more time than the few months from the anticipated launch of the phone for Huawei to implement a whole new ecosystem.
Theory 4: The Huawei P40 Pro will be more like a Huawei P30 Pro 2.
Huawei could reuse the GMS license from the P30 or some other Huawei device. That would allow it to launch on time with Google apps on board and keep Huawei’s global smartphone division afloat for the time being. From then on, Huawei is likely going to be working around the clock to make HMS and its new Harmony OS ecosystem a viable option for replacing Android, while simultaneously hoping that the Huawei ban will be lifted, and it can go back to business as usual.
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